Why the Centre Denied Requests from AIS Officers: Key Details on Amrapali Kata and Others
the Central government made a significant decision impacting several All India Services (AIS) officers, including prominent IAS officers Amrapali Kata and Ronald Rose. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has rejected their requests to remain in Telangana, directing them instead to report back to Andhra Pradesh by October 16. This decision follows a lengthy review process regarding the allocation of AIS officers after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
Full Details
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) communicated its decision through letters sent to the Chief Secretaries of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The rejection of these requests was based on the recommendations from the Deepak Khandekar committee. This committee was tasked with reviewing the requests from AIS officers who sought to swap their allocated cadres during the bifurcation process. The committee concluded that such requests were beyond established principles upheld by the High Court.
The Ministry emphasized that the allocation process was uniform and adhered strictly to factual records. The Telangana High Court had previously reiterated the importance of following these guidelines, stating that any deviation would be discriminatory. It also ruled that attempts by officers to challenge these guidelines constituted an overreach into policymaking.
Among those affected are:
- Amrapali Kata
- Ronald Rose
- A Vani Prasad
- D. Ronald Rose
- Vakati Karuna
- M. Prashanti
- Gummella Srijana
- Sivasankar Lahoti
- G. Ravi Kiran
- G. Anantaramu
Additionally, senior IPS officers like Anjani Kumar and Abhilasha Bisht are also included in this directive.
DoPT rejected @CommissionrGHMC Amrapali Kata’s, lAS (AP:2010) & D. Ronald Rose, IAS (AP:2006), request to consider their domicile as #Telangana and allocate the Telangana cadre. They has to report to AP now.
About Anjani Kumar Transfer it’s not yet clear .. pic.twitter.com/ivLzVALcZB
— Harish Daga (@HarishKumarDaga) October 10, 2024
Background
The controversy stems from the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, which created Telangana as a separate state in 2014. Following this division, many officers found themselves allocated to Andhra Pradesh but were serving in Telangana. Numerous appeals were filed by these officers seeking to remain in their current positions, citing various personal and professional reasons.
Despite their efforts, including appeals to the Central Administrative Tribunal, most requests have been denied. The recent decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing saga regarding cadre allocations in the two states.
Implications
The implications of this decision are profound for the officers involved. They must now prepare for relocation back to Andhra Pradesh, which could disrupt their current assignments and personal lives significantly. The DoPT’s directive is clear: these officers are required to comply with the order and report back to their original postings.
This situation reflects broader challenges faced by AIS officers navigating complex bureaucratic landscapes following significant administrative changes like state bifurcations. It raises questions about job security and stability for civil servants in similar situations across India.
As this situation unfolds, it remains crucial for those affected to stay informed about any further developments or potential avenues for appeal. The Central government’s firm stance highlights ongoing tensions between bureaucratic regulations and individual officer circumstances.